Nepal–1991

This photo was taken while hiking some very steep hills in the Nepali countryside. I remember feeling exhausted by the time we came to the crest of one particular hill – I was rewarded, however, with an incredible view of the Nepali landscape.

I had not been alone in my climb. This region of Nepal is full of small villages so it’s not uncommon to see locals trekking through the hills. Sitting on the crest was a man, a young girl, and the elderly woman in this photo. They were resting beside a pile of luggage and baskets they had somehow managed to carry. I asked if I could photograph them, and found they were happy to oblige.

The sun was bright that day, and so the woman squinted as she looked toward my camera. Thinking of the load she had carried with her that day, I imagined she had endured a lot of hardship in her life. To me, it’s the lines in her face that work to tell her story.